Justus Erich Walbaum

Justus Erich Walbaum was born in 1768 in Steinlah, near Goslar. His father was a pastor, but Justus Erich chose a different path and began an apprenticeship as a merchant with a spice trader and confectioner in Braunschweig. In addition to his commercial activities, Justus Erich Walbaum also got involved in craftsmanship, such as the production of baking molds. Initially, this involved woodworking, but later Walbaum also ventured into steel engraving, eventually giving up his merchant profession to fully dedicate himself to engraving.

He stayed in Braunschweig and successfully engraved medals and printing plates for a music printing company. From these metal engraving works, it was only a small step to typecasting because designing fonts at that time meant engraving letters in steel punches. In 1796, Justus Erich Walbaum took over a type foundry in Goslar and worked there quite successfully for several years.